• Premier League

Adams critical of Arsenal's Walcott stance

ESPN staff
November 5, 2012
Arsene Wenger has claimed he wants Theo Walcott's contract situation sorted by Christmas © PA Photos
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Tony Adams feels Arsenal have erred by allowing Theo Walcott to enter the final year of his contract, as he believes their current plight is doing nothing to persuade the England international to commit to the Gunners.

Arsenal went unbeaten in their opening five Premier League games, but they have suffered setbacks both domestically and in Europe in recent weeks and were comprehensively outclassed by Manchester United at the weekend.

Adams feels Arsenal are not in the title picture and of equal concern to the Gunners legend is the future of Walcott.

Walcott is in the final year of his contract and with talks having so far failed to bear fruit, there are fears that he will wind down his contract and leave on a free next summer.

Adams is wary that Walcott will follow the lead of the likes of Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie and move on - with Arsenal doing nothing to persuade him to stay on.

"The big one at the moment is Theo," Adams told the Sun. "But what incentive has he got?

"I don't think it helps that he got a hat-trick in the week (against Reading in the Capital One Cup) and then he's on the bench at the weekend.

"I'd like to see him up front but I'd also like to see Van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas still at the club.

"You can go back to the days of Ashley Cole going to Chelsea, so many have moved on and are doing jobs for great teams.

"You don't let them go into the last year of their contracts. Chelsea didn't do that with John Terry or Frank Lampard. When you have strong players you put them on long contracts and look after them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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